Thunder fall to .500 on season with loss to Richmond

The catching depth in the New York Yankees organization was on display Wednesday night at Arm & Hammer Park. So much so that Francisco Cervelli was playing first base.

The 28-year-old’s appearance didn’t help as the Trenton Thunder lost 10-4 to the Richmond Squirrels in front of an announced and chilled crowd of 3,391. Over the past two games Richmond has collected 27 hits.

The loss was Trenton’s sixth in their last seven games and leaves them with a record of 33-33. It has now lost 19 of its last 29 games.

Rehabbing from an April hamstring issue, the veteran catcher is in town until today with the hope of coming off the 60-day Disabled List and rejoining the parent club this week.

With Brian McCann and John Ryan Murphy on the New York roster, and kids like Austin Romine at the Triple-A level and Gary Sanchez here, the franchise continues to look for depth at first base.

That is the reason Wednesday night’s starting catcher, Pete O’Brien, is being tried at first base.

Cervelli, now 2-for-20, is scheduled to catch Thursday.

His arrival was one of a handful of movements Wednesday.

While Cervelli played his sixth rehab game — having played in Tampa and at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the past week — starting pitcher Jeremy Bleich was promoted to Scranton. Being demoted from the AAA club was pitcher Zach Nuding.

On Tuesday, second baseman Rob Refsnyder was moved up to Scranton and pitcher Jairo Heredia was brought back down to Trenton.

The Thunder have now made 87 roster moves this season, involving 46 players. By comparison, Richmond has made 24 moves involving 32 players.

Transaction 88 will likely be Thursday when Cervelli leaves town.

“I love catching. It’s what I like to do,” he said before the game. “But I’ve always been the 26th man on the roster. I play third base, second base, first base. Right now I am looking to help the team as much as I can.

“I feel good; I feel healthy. First base, I need to work a lot. But at the same time I can do it.”

Cervelli played here in 2008. He played 21 games and was called to the big leagues in September. Trenton had just won the Eastern League championship.

“I think that was the best day of my life,” he said about being called up to New York.
He’s played for the Yankees every year since, although he’s had his share of injuries and last year served a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

With that behind him, the gregarious Venezuelan just wants to get back to the game; even if the game means making the adjustment to first base.

“I’m too hyper sometimes,” Cervelli said about the challenge of playing first base. “I have to be moving around and jump a little bit because it’s not easy. There’s a little adjusting I have to do. I have to stay calm. That’s the hard part. You’re gonna see me dancing.”

Pitching coach Tommy Phelps was in his first season here when Cervelli was called up to New York.

“He’s a competitor, a leader; he has a lot of energy. Behind the plate, he’s one of those guys who have a knack of calling games,” Phelps said.

Whether he’ll be calling games for any of his current teammates remains to be seen.
Phelps said he isn’t sure which pitcher will now be dropped from the rotation. As far as Nuding and Heredia being back here, Phelps said they just have to regain their confidence.

As for Bleich, Phelps noted, “Hopefully he’ll take advantage of his opportunity.”